This all has been already done but I thought I’d share it since it starts my journey with veggie growing. I need to mention that I really did not know much to begin with, most of my initial knowledge came from YouTube; Google Search; Organic NZ Magazine and from my mum.
So I had this big mission to set up raised beds with lasagne like layers (click on a link to find out more) of nitrogen- carbon rich material and plant my vegetables on a section that was initially full of weed growing on clay mixed with rocks.
The goal was to:
- Do this without using any chemicals like Roundup (click on a link to find out why not to use it) have it all organic
- To upcycle wood instead of buying new
- To create lasagne layers (another good link on how to do it) from things available around me or for free instead of buying
- To get some good deals on seedlings
- Vegetable beds couldn’t be too big and need to be easy to remove as we live in a rented property.
- Pick veggies that are easy to grow and don’t require much work
To do this project I spent some time learning about layering soil correctly and what can I use for them. There is so much material available that even if you are an amateur you will know exactly what to do. I also had to involve few people to help me out in setting it up…
This is how we did it:
Clear the weed: its hard to do anything when you have a little baby so I invited friends over for a gardening session with a tasty dinner and dessert as a Thank you
Dig holes and frame them with wood: my husband dug holes and we used some left over timber found behind the shed to build frames
Fill them with organic and rich mix: first newspapers (sourced from my neighbor) went for the bottom to stop the weed; later layers were created from a mix of partly composted chip bark (delivered for free from tree cutting company that I found on Trade Me); pine needles from my garden; leaves from the street; wet grass clippings (collected from a nearby pitch); lime and finally soil and compost (the only one I had to buy).
Plant vegetables: few visits to a nearby Garden Center’s Reduced in Price Plants section and I had: 12 various Tomato plants; 8 different Capsicum plants; 8 different Salads; and 3 Cucumber plants. All cost a fraction of their original price (less than $50 for the whole) only because they didn’t look perfect 🙂 Marigolds where the only ones we paid a full price for but they were a necessary companion plant
An this is how it looked after we set it all up:
Just after planting in early November
Good for you!!
This makes me wish I could grow an outdoor garden, definitely a huge downside of living in the city. You have a very focused approach and I can only imagine the glee you’ll take when it’s ready to be to be harvested!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Thanks, I surely hope so…if the birds wont get it first 🙂
LikeLike
Can you put a mesh or wire tent around it?
LikeLike
I did 🙂 but they are pushing the next forward to get to tomatoes… cheeky NZ birds 🙂 I’ve seen them doing it. I suppose I can share some 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No!! Birds will be fine, save the crops!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahahah:):):)
LikeLike
Great project! I’d love to grow my own food, too, though it’s not possible at the moment because I don’t have space. I have looked into pot gardening but not sure yet how to start. This is an inspiring post, good luck! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, thanks for your comment:) The hardest thing to do is to start 🙂 1 plant at the time:)
See below I found some cool posts about it from other bloggers:)
http://www.urbanorganicgardener.com/apartment-gardening/
LikeLike